"Being the number one zoo in the world, you have to stay ahead of the curve, and that's exactly what the Henry Doorly Zoo is doing," City Council Member Garry Gernandt said.

"Some of the traffic patterns around the zoo were based on what the stadium needed," Pate said. "So now that the stadium's not here, we're looking at that to see what would best serve the guests coming to and from the zoo.”

Pate said the current infrastructure overhaul will move 10th Street west, consolidating two current parking lots and helping visitors avoid crossing busy streets.

The intersection of 10th Street and Bob Gibson Boulevard will be realigned, and Bob Gibson Boulevard will become a two-way street. The old Game and Parks space will become parking. All of the transition will be paid for by the zoo, and Pate said any property swap with the city should come out even financially.

"So there's a lot going on, a lot of problems to solve, and we hope to be able to do those all at once with this project," Pate said.

Pate, who is working with traffic engineers on the design, said he's never been part of a streets project like this before.

"In the end, this is going to be a good thing," said City Councilman Garry Gernandt, who sat on the committee that assessed the project. "It will keep us and the zoo a bright blip on the radar screen, if you will."

The plans include 45 additional parking spots and lead up to additional projects on the zoo's north end, including a new entrance and an upcoming Asian highlands exhibit. Pending city approval, Pate said the project should be complete by next spring, around the same time that the African Grassland exhibit is completed.